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Subject: Mormon School?
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OneLifeToLiveUser is Offline

Posts:3

05/05/2008 11:23 PM Alert 

I was curious if anyone knows if Legacy Traditional plans on converting to a school for mormons?  I have heard many stories from parents, that I just shook off, but the other day I heard some teachers laughing about the owners wanting to turn it into a mormon school.  They mentioned that they went around to all the non-mormon teachers, and delivered LDS DVDs over Christmas. I am not going to bother trying to contact the administration, because I have yet to get a response from Mr. Gregory on any of my messages. Please understand that I have no problem with LDS, however I just want to know if this is a realistic goal.  This going with all the things I have heard from parents, has me questioning.  I hate to be the person starting things, but the conversation I overheard from the teachers really bothered me.  If anyone has any suggestions on what I should do, please let me know.  I have a hard time approaching the adminstration on this issue and many others, because I have never got the feeling like they care what I think or feel. 

*rikimaru*User is Offline

Posts:346


05/06/2008 4:55 AM Alert 
oh this one should be fun **grabs popcorn**

listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb
CyndiWitczakUser is Offline

Posts:181

05/06/2008 6:31 AM Alert 
That would make no sense. It's a public state funded school and if they converted they would lose funding. I have never had problems contacting or being contacted by the administration. If you don't like the school, choose another option.

Yes, that's really my name
sjtrimUser is Offline

Posts:387


05/06/2008 8:00 AM Alert 

This is the funniest thing I've read in awhile. Of course they aren't going to do that. It's against the law and Cyndi's right, they would lose money. Just because they are LDS doesn't mean anything. Why are you afraid to talk to them? I ask them questions all the time. If you're concerned about anything, then you need to ask them. Go in there, don't call and leave messages. The Hale family went Christmas caroling to a lot of families. I'm friends with his wife, so they came here. Yes they gave me a DVD, and I am LDS, but I don't think the one they gave me is specifically an LDS one. It was a old Christmas movie with Jimmy Stewart in it. I didn't realize they went to all the teachers homes. How cool is that though? It was just their own family outing, not an administration thing. Have you ever thought that maybe those teachers were making a joke? If the owners were Catholic I wouldn't be concerned that they were going to make it a Catholic school. Who cares what religion the owners are? It has no bearing on how they run the school. Mr. Hale's wife got this question a lot last summer before they opened and her answer was, of course not cause it wouldn't be legal to do that. So there you go, stop worrying. Cyndi's right, if you don't like the school, then choose another option.



Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin
DaybyDayUser is Offline

Posts:199

05/06/2008 8:15 AM Alert 
It could be an attitude thing too. Sometimes, it seems...not only with this issue, but with others, the principal brushes people off. Maybe it is a personality charactersitic that he needs to address. But, OneLifeToLive is not the only person that I have heard say that he tends to be a little too dismissive with parental concerns/questions. I can understand their being frustrated/tired of having to answer this question, but it is a question that needs to be asked and answered (by them) until the parent asking them feels confident in their response. That goes with any other question about the school program, from lunches to uniforms...or whatever. When you are in an administrative position, be ready for questions, concerns, and attitudes from parents and be ready to handle them in a professional way.

In regards to this issue, I will just ask a source. I will ask a staff member that I don't think is LDS if this happened or not.
sjtrimUser is Offline

Posts:387


05/06/2008 8:37 AM Alert 
Well my information came straight from Mr. Hale. It's not true. You said the staff members were laughing. That leads me to believe that they were joking. If Mr. Gregory isn't available then ask Mr. Hale or Mrs. Sorrell. I've never had issues with talking to any of them. I'm sure they are tired of that question because last summer they had about 10 calls a day asking about it. It's simply not true. Again, it's against the law.


Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin
MommyMacUser is Offline

Posts:42

05/06/2008 11:23 AM Alert 
oh this one should be fun **grabs popcorn**


I'm grabbing mine too! ;-)
DaybyDayUser is Offline

Posts:199

05/06/2008 12:38 PM Alert 
Hi, I have been thinking about this situation quite a bit today. And while you don't know me, I would be willing to go with you to the teachers you overheard this comment from to ask them what they meant and why they said it. If you gave me more details, I would go to those teachers myself and find out what the situation was. This is completely unacceptable. If this sitiuation were reversed, and say these were Christians making these statements, there would be all kinds of heck raised. I am a bit tired of the apathy and the teachers that made the comments (whether they were joking or not) need to know that they were overheard and that you didn't appreciate their insinuation.
*rikimaru*User is Offline

Posts:346


05/06/2008 1:37 PM Alert 
playing devils advocate again, isnt mormonism a branch of christianity ie the loose definition of christianity being someone who believes in the divinity of JC? anywhoo, my opinion is that obviously LTS cannot become a self professed mormon religious based charter school as that would be illegal&funding $$$ would go away, but what i could see happen, is ever so subtle slipping in of mormon moral beliefs albeit not necessarily religious views. just my honest opinion, **grabs flame suit** ok sjtrim&cyndi i am ready for you now

listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb
OneLifeToLiveUser is Offline

Posts:3

05/06/2008 1:58 PM Alert 
I have just gotten information from some very creditable sources that said that they are aware of the video. The video did have a movie as they said, but it also had the story of Joseph Smith and the Tabernacle choir.
About going in and talking to Mr. Gregory, he is never there. I have tried and every time they say he has already gone home. There were some issues I wanted to address at the first parent conferences, I was told he went home shortly after the kids left.
You are right, I don't have to be here. However, there is not a whole lot of quality choices in Maricopa. I want whats best for my children. I have waited a long time to post this, and I still question if it is the right thing to do. I do think people need to be cautious of what could be going on.
I don't want the teachers getting in any trouble over this. From the sounds of things, they were just venting. It wasn't even at the school where I heard them talking.
I personally don't know Mr. Hale, I have never tried to deal with him because I was told he was only in charge of finances. (I could be wrong on that) I don't know whey he saying it isn't true now know what I know.
CyndiWitczakUser is Offline

Posts:181

05/06/2008 2:06 PM Alert 
I wouldn't care if they DID teach LDS doctrine. We are Catholic. We are strong in our Faith. It is the responsibility of every person to learn about other's beliefs. When I went to Catholic high school we had a world religion class. I have at no time and in no way seen any evidence of anything other than proudly American teaching in the school. Look, we came from a very nicely well established Scottsdale school distirct where my daughter was in the gifted program and even then she was not challenged. This year at Legacy is the first year she has ever had to WORK. Work isn't a bad word. It's what made generations before us into stronger more intelligent people than we seem to be seeing all around us. They graffiti our walls, steal our cars, and any other number of things that shouldn't be socially acceptable. If you don't like the school, don't send your kids there. I think it's that simple. Gaining knowledge of another religion doesn't scare me. Letting my daughter go to a school where kids are smoking pot in the bathrooms and bringing weapons on campus does. I hope Legacy eventually goes all the way through high school. I will happily pay a dollar to get a day now and then where she can wear other clothing. That idea, by the way, came from one of my daughter's friends in 5th grade. It wasn't thought up by administration. It is to raise funds for the end of the year party. We support the kids at Legacy in all that they do, without regard to their religious affiliation. I don't think you have been attacked, I just don't understand why you keep posting if you hate it so much. Let other people decide for themselves. Maybe it's not right for your family, but it is for many others. Respect their decision as they respect yours, and leave it be.

Yes, that's really my name
DaybyDayUser is Offline

Posts:199

05/06/2008 2:08 PM Alert 
Thank you for making us aware of this potential issue. We do need to be aware of these situations.
sjtrimUser is Offline

Posts:387


05/06/2008 4:26 PM Alert 

Riki, I can't believe that would ever happen. They wouldn't do that so why is everyone worrying? My kids have gone to school in Mesa and Santa Cruz last year. Out of both of those schools I NEVER even knew the religion of the Principals. Why? Because I didn't care. They weren't going to teach religion classes at school so why would it matter what religion they are? Just because the 2 administrators at Legacy are LDS doesn't mean they are going to "slip" in mormon doctrine. Parents wouldn't like that and they'd get their funding taken away. This is something that I think has totally been blown out of whack. Support them because you like the school and don't be worried about them teaching anything other than what they're supposed too.
As far as the DVD's go, who cares? So they gave DVD's away to teachers. I got one too and it was a Hale family outing, not a school outing. They gave them to teachers not to students and they didn't tell the teachers to go and play it in their classes either. They were being nice by giving a Christmas gift, what's the big deal with that?
Do you like the education your kids are receiving? If so, then that's all that matters. Mr. Hale may handle the finances, but he is available to talk to. He is one of the founders of the school. That doesn't mean you can't talk to him. Mrs. Sorrell is available to speak with also. She is the assistant principal. I think this is a silly topic that no one even needs to be concerned about anymore. I've heard the answer, it's no, so let's move on. I agree with Cyndi, if it's not right for your family, move on and respect others decisions who actually like it there. I agree with you Cyndi 100%!



Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin
*rikimaru*User is Offline

Posts:346


05/06/2008 7:12 PM Alert 

@cindi, if i wanted religion taught to my kids i would have them sent to a religious school but i dont so no way should LTS or any other publicly funded schools be taught ANY religious theology at all imo. now one thing that does bother me, is having spoken to gregory's wife who informed me they are trying to "instill discipline&character" which i have a problem with. its not LTS' place to do instill those traits in my children, that is our job but whatever like we all know, LTS has its detractors&its defenders etc but i guess thats what forums are all about.

@sjtrim, how do u know they wouldnt do that? i am not saying they necessarily would but i did say that i could see at some point mormon MORALS not mormon doctrine being subtley incorporated into curriculum/policy. i mean come on, when someone has religious views that govern their social&personal lives, is it farfetched to imagine when given authority over a body of peope ie staff/students etc etc, that those same religious views would not influence their decisions as administrators? not necessarily trying to be combative, but i refuse to just go along drinking the kool aid. all i am saying is anything is possible......

btw my DS did in fact come home with peculiar, strangely colored plates that were indecipherable remiscent of a certain tale involving kooky glasses doens it?. makes ya think! see maybe there is some funny business going over there at LTS.  turns out he did them in art class hehe i kid, i kid


listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb
girls4sureUser is Offline

Posts:21

05/06/2008 8:10 PM Alert 
I think the answer has been said enough times on this thread but I will speak up to add one more voice to the choir. I am a teacher at LTS and I am not a member of the LDS church, so I think I can speak on my own behalf and say that the school's purpose is to teach children the fundamentals just as any public school sets out to do. Just as no public school is affiliated with any particular religion a charter school must follow the same guidelines and the separation of church and state withstanding may not combine religion with the state mandated curriculum.

As for the "Character Traits" that were referred to they are traits that are not aligned with any religion. I learned the 7 traits of Extraordinary Leaders while in a public HS in NY. I found one example of six traits for character building for children on this site: http://www.trendenterprises.com/Argus/ArgusProdOneDetail.cfm?ItemID=TA-6681

I will not comment on the "hearsay" that started this thread.

Please understand that we are starting open enrollment and hiring of administrators, teachers and support staff. While this is going on please be patient and I am sure that the administration would like to give you and your questions the time you want and deserve.

Thanks!
A+Teacher
sjtrimUser is Offline

Posts:387


05/06/2008 9:16 PM Alert 
Well said A+ teacher. I think I know you? I'm putting the pieces together.
Riki, as long as they aren't instilling morals in my children about drugs, gangs and alcohol, then I don't care what morals they teach them. LDS people have great morals, so I would have no problem with that. They are the kind of morals I'm already teaching my kids. Think of it this way, the 2 administrators are the ones that are LDS so aside from them actually going from class to class and talking to the kids, how are they going to even be interacting and influencing them that much? They aren't actually in the classrooms, so that would be a little hard, don't ya think? I don't even know which teachers there are LDS. This paranoia that some of you have with this issue needs to be stopped now.


Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin
*rikimaru*User is Offline

Posts:346


05/07/2008 5:34 AM Alert 
again i am not paranoid, i didnt even say its going to happen i just said it COULD happen is all. isnt it crazy that the very thought of mormon doctrine being somehow mixed in with curriculum or policy, has people riled up?

listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb
sjtrimUser is Offline

Posts:387


05/07/2008 7:38 AM Alert 
Riki, I didn't say you were paranoid, but others on this thread seem to be. The person who started it for one. I'm not riled up either. I do think it's silly that people are so concerned that this could happen. It shouldn't matter what religion teachers or administrators are, as long as the parents are happy with the education their children get. I wonder, if they were any other religion would we be having this worry? Probably not.


Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin
*rikimaru*User is Offline

Posts:346


05/07/2008 9:13 AM Alert 
well for me, i dont have a problem with them being LDS or catholic or any other religion i just dont want ANY religious beliefs taught to my kids is all. i believe those are parental responsibilities is all. keep them seperate and i am good

listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb
OneLifeToLiveUser is Offline

Posts:3

05/07/2008 10:14 AM Alert 
My concerns really are not what religiion they are, but more that they went to their employees houses to give them DVDs telling the story of Joseph Smith. I am also concerned when Mr. Hale was asked about giving them out, he denied it. So the school can never legally be called a mormon school, but the school takes many concervative approaches towards things that I believe are a result of their beliefs. That happens will happen with any administration. I guess I have been rubbed the wrong way by Mr. Gregory. It bothers me that a person starting a new school, is never there and when I did talk to him in the past I never felt like he was willing to listen to what I had to say. I don't know Mr. Hale and Ms. Sorrell. I might try talking to them now in the future. I hope that this school does become successful and a valid option for students to attend. There are some great teachers there, including the LDS. In the grand sceme of things I just want to be able to feel comfortable talking with my children's administrator, and I want to know that the principal is going to be at conferences the entire time for parents to talk. It would be nice if he would stick around once in a while past 3 for parents to talk to him. That is my dream for the school.
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